State Education Commissioner Christine Nicastro announced this afternoon she’s resigning at the end of the year, ending a tumultuous run as the head of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Nicastro, who’s served since 2009, has come under fire from Democrats and Republicans the past year as the state has dealt with unaccredited school districts and begun to implement Common Core Standards.
State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal led an effort to remove Nicastro earlier this year for her management of the crisis surrounding the unaccredited Normandy School District and upon hearing the news she’s retiring, Nadal tweeted, “Congratulations Missouri, Christine Nicastro is GONE”
Governor Jay Nixon also weighed in on Nicastro’s decision saying in a statement, “the progress Missouri’s public schools have made during her tenure as Commissioner is a testament to her unwavering commitment to providing every Missouri child with a high quality education.”
